skin doctors

At the end of a long 15 hour international flight passengers have often asked me “How do the crew manage to stay looking fresh till the end?” I can assure you that we crew are only human and also get tired and crave a shower as much as anyone else. It is really important to be prepared and get off to a good start so I always aim to be well rested and leave plenty of time to avoid feeling rushed and stressed before I fly. For further insight into how us crew look after our health, wellness and vitality during and after a long haul flight, here are some of my Inflight health and wellness industry tips:

Hydration- Travelling by air is extremely dehydrating for our bodies both internally and externally, as the cabin air at altitude is very low in humidity. To counteract the internal effects, I drink a litre of coconut water before and a minimum of 2 litres of water whilst in the air. To help me externally, the night before I fly always put in a moisturising hair mask and sleep in a moisturising face cream. I can’t stress enough that when you fly frequently, investing in a high quality moisturising cream is a non-negotiable as it can really help reduce the feeling of dehydration. My favourite face creams are Skin Doctors’ Skin Active Night before I fly and Super Moist for during the flight (and day), as they last and are deeply moisturising. For a quick top-up I also use a hydration spray, which is very refreshing.

Sleep- When flying across multiple time zones your biological clock becomes very distorted, therefore getting sleep on board is really important. You might be surprised to know that on most long haul aircraft like the A380 that I fly on, there are crew bunks. I usually get 2-3 hours break to have a sleep. This sleep breaks up the long flight and definitely recharges me. As a passenger, when I can choose the time to have a rest, I try to sleep based on the time zone I am flying to. I know that seated on an aircraft is a not an ideal place for sleeping, however any rest is better than none, especially if you want to maximise your time at your destination. Utilise nightshades and pillows, as well dress comfortably.

Make Up and Grooming – As a passenger I wear very little or no make up to let my skin breathe. When I am working however, I wear long lasting make-up as this definitely helps us crew look fresher. For foundation I love my Mac BB cream. As dark eye circles are a big sign of fatigue, I use Skin Doctors’ Eye Circle Cream and a concealer from Mac to cover this up. It’s worth applying the cream while you fly and covering up with concealer before you land if you are hitting the ground running. Most of the celebrities I have had on board will spend the last part of a flight changing and putting on make up before they are met by paparazzi in the terminal.

Touch up before touch down– This is an old flight attendant industry saying and something that all of the crew does before landing. This might mean just topping up lipstick, changing back into heels, brushing teeth and spraying on perfume (and that’s just the male crew;-). In First and Business class we offer pasengers pyjamas so they change and hang-up their clothes that they wore on board, keeping them fresh for landing, as many business travellers are going straight to meetings. If you are traveling in economy, consider bringing something loose and comfortable to change into during the flight. Also, layers are great as temperatures can vary up there (and in the terminals). Finally, flat shoes are a must, with ballet flats being my go to when I am a passenger.

Nutrition– I try to eat healthy light meals while I fly. Eating lots of white bread or pasta on board will just make you bloated and sluggish. There are some beautiful healthy meals that we offer on board, so always choose wisely. I also recommend bringing your own healthy snacks, which can avoid unhealthy purchases in the terminal.

Move around– Yes you should stay in your seat with seat belt fastened for safety reasons. However, when it is safe to do so, you should also make sure you are moving around every now and then and keeping active. As a crewmember I move around a lot and I think that it really helps wilth swelling and general wellbeing. I encourage my passengers on the A380 in Business and First class to visit the on-board lounge and in Economy the self-service bar. It’s a great change of scenery and place to stretch. If you are not able to leave your seat, I suggest ankle circles and neck rolls, also try flexing your major muscles in your legs. All this helps reduce the risk of DVT and muscle tension; which could lead to backaches and a feeling of excessive fatigue during, and even after your flight.

Jetlag is unfortunately a very real thing that International travellers have to deal with. Once you arrive at your destination it usually takes a few days to get into the rhythm of the place. I always have a rest and try to get into the destination time zone as soon as possible. I do listen to my body and try to rest when I need it and eat if I am hungry. Never underestimate the power of the sun; a light walk outdoors is a great way to acclimatise. I hope these In flight Health and Wellness industry tips help you on your journey so that you can maximise your time at your destination. Safe travels!

Note- this post was sponsored by Skin Doctors. My opinions are 100% true

About Me

I'm Jade and I have been an international flight attendant for over ten years. I'm married to Ben and we have two children Charlotte and Sol. We live on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula. I love my family and I love flying. I hope you enjoy my blog x